Night draped over Planet U18,but the lights of the genetic testing center remained bright,as if the facility never rested.Deep within the center,the storage area of the gene vault was tightly secured.Countless gene storage pods were arranged like a honeycomb,densely stretching into an unknown depth.Each pod was labeled with specific codes,representing the quality of the genes and their future use.
The gene vault was hidden behind thick metal walls in the deepest part of the testing center.Here,there was no outside noise,only the cold environment and strict technological safeguards protecting these precious genetic sequences.Every preserved gene had passed multiple layers of selection.Once categorized and labeled,they would be sent to different departments based on their characteristics,for use in various fields of genetic modification.
"Gene Code:0009,Quality:A-,Marked for'Intellectual Enhancement,'"a researcher at the console calmly observed the data flickering on the screen,his fingers gliding swiftly over the virtual panel.Each sequence was processed and classified with precision before being transmitted to its designated storage unit.These high-quality genes would be used for intellectual modifications,such as providing smarter individuals for the Empire's research departments and political think tanks.
On the other side of the storage area,a different label appeared on the screen."Gene Code:1023,Quality:B+,Marked for'Physical Enhancement.'"This set of genes would be used to enhance physical abilities,helping athletes or elite soldiers within the Empire improve their strength and endurance.The storage method for these"physical enhancement"genes differed from those of intellectual enhancements,with higher security measures to prevent external interference while shielding them from the world beyond the Empire.
In the heart of the Empire's capital city,the bustling streets were filled with throngs of people,but to him,their hurried footsteps seemed distant.The man stood in the corner,his eyes hollow,as though his soul had long been devoured by the cold,indifferent city.Neon lights flickered around him,casting interwoven shadows on his gaunt face.In the midst of the chaotic backdrop,his figure appeared small,as if it could be swallowed by the countless footsteps at any moment.
He lifted his head,his vacant gaze fixating on the giant holographic screen in front of him.On the screen,a newly genetically enhanced top athlete was being interviewed.She had a slender,perfectly toned body,her eyes shining with confidence and brilliance.Her smile carried the joy of victory,as though she stood on top of the world.The footage showed her easily breaking world records,becoming a star and a symbol of the Empire.
The man stared at the screen,his eyes gradually losing focus,and countless unfulfilled dreams flashed through his mind.He had once yearned to stand on such a stage,to have a chance to change his fate.But those dreams had long been crushed by the harshness of reality.
He lowered his head slowly,his lips trembling as he muttered to himself,"Why don't we even have the chance for enhancement?"
His voice was faint,nearly drowned out by the surrounding noise,but the bitterness and helplessness in every word were deeply etched.No matter how hard he tried,no matter how desperately he wanted change,the shackles of fate had already bound him tightly.He knew that this world only opened its doors to those with power and privilege,while people like him were destined to struggle at the very bottom,unable even to touch a glimmer of hope.
He clenched his fists,his nails digging into his palms,yet he felt no pain.The fury and despair trapped inside him churned like a fire buried deep in his chest,unable to find release.Each time he saw these genetically modified"elites"basking in victory and honor on the screens,it felt as though a boulder was crushing his chest,leaving him breathless.This unjust reality was like an invisible chain,locking him in place.
Luxurious aircraft flew overhead,and the towering skyscrapers shimmered coldly in the night.The city's bustling life felt distant and unreachable to him.He stood in the corner of the city,a forgotten shadow longing for a redemption that would never come.
"We people like us don't even deserve hope,"he muttered with a bitter,self-deprecating smile.His voice was so faint,as if even he could barely believe in his own existence.He knew this world would never pause for someone like him.
The imbalance of resources and the monopoly on genetic modification had long divided the strong from the weak.Those with resources became stronger through genetic enhancement,gaining more power and wealth,while people like him,who couldn't even qualify for basic enhancement,were left behind.The strong grew stronger,and the weak were forever trampled underfoot.This insurmountable gap was devouring every corner of the Empire.
People continued to pass by in a hurry,not one noticing the man standing in the shadows.He stood there in solitude,like a silent statue.The brilliance around him was irrelevant;he was just a speck of dust,destined to drift in the wind,never finding a place to settle.With eyes closed,he muttered softly,memories of shattered dreams and wasted efforts flitting through his mind like ashes blown away by the wind,vanishing without a trace.
He knew his life would be spent on the fringes of this world.Glory and honor belonged only to the genetically superior and resourceful elites.For those like him—"ordinary people"—the chance to rewrite their fate had never existed.In this moment,he felt a deeper despair.It crept into his heart like cold poison,freezing his hope and sealing off his future.
Meanwhile,in the Imperial Academy's laboratory,a different scene was unfolding,filled with tension and anticipation.Beams of light and streams of data floated in the air,signifying the progress of a quantum experiment.Standing at the central console was a young scientist,his eyes burning with passion and pride.On the virtual screen in front of him,complex quantum models were being calculated at high speed.Every line of data,every adjustment,laid the foundation for an imminent technological breakthrough.
He was no longer an ordinary human but had been genetically modified as an"intellectual enhancer."His neural system had been altered,allowing him to process information at an unimaginable speed,with mental reactions far beyond normal humans.
He glanced back at his assistant,his eyes filled with confidence and excitement,as if the future was already within his grasp."Genetic modification has boosted our research speed by at least tenfold,"he said in a deep voice,his tone tinged with a fanatic excitement.He wasn't just stating a fact—it sounded more like he was praising the technology that had changed their lives and fates.
The assistant nodded,his expression equally excited.They stood at the pinnacle of technology,driving the Empire into an unprecedented future."What we're doing now...it's beyond anything humanity has ever achieved,"the assistant murmured in awe.
The scientist smiled,his grin filled with a sense of satisfaction from being in control of everything."Yes,this is the gift of technology,the gift of our time.Without it,we could never have completed this project so quickly."His voice brimmed with euphoria,their eyes gleaming with the same fervor—a pursuit of the future and a deep satisfaction in controlling everything.
At the same time,another miracle of genetic modification was quietly taking place in the wealth center of the Empire.
A wealthy man suffering from a terminal illness lay in a top-tier medical research facility,surrounded by doctors in white coats.The equipment in their hands glowed with a cold light,rapidly repairing the billionaire's diseased cells through genetic modification.With each adjustment to the genetic sequence and each reconstruction of damaged cells,the man was slowly pulled back from the brink of death.
The man's aged face quickly regained its youth.The wrinkles on his face smoothed out,and his once-weak eyes sparkled with vitality again.His physical condition improved dramatically in just a few minutes,with the once-incurable disease seemingly eradicated in an instant.The doctors around him looked proud,as if they weren't just healing a life but creating a miracle.
"Genetic modification is the greatest invention of this era,"one doctor whispered in admiration,his voice filled with pride and excitement.They weren't just treating a patient;they were redefining the limits of life.This technology allowed them to surpass nature,transcending the constraints of disease and death,giving humanity unprecedented control.
The surrounding doctors nodded,their eyes gleaming with excitement.This wasn't just the revival of a billionaire—it was proof of a new definition of life.The technology they held in their hands made humans no longer subject to time and disease.For those at the top of society,death was no longer an inevitable fate but a game they could control.
Behind all of this was an endless frenzy and excitement about the possibilities genetic modification brought.Among the Empire's wealthiest and most powerful,genetic modification was no longer just a symbol of technological progress but a tool for mastering destiny.Through it,they could change the limits of the body,break the chains of intellect,and even alter the very end of life.For those at the top,this technology had become almost like a cult.They saw the endless benefits it brought and how it secured their hold on power and wealth.Their eyes shone with a fanatical light,as if this technology was the key to immortality and eternity.